I went to Slimbridge for the Purple Heron
which unfortunately didn't appear (my second twitching dip in a
row!), but this bird was some compensation.

It was a most
frustrating subject for photography -with its incredibly fast and
erratic flight path combined with the restricted movement possible
when sticking a large lens through a narrow hide window. Also most
of the time the bird was against trees on which the auto focus
would immediately lock!

When it came closer it was just
too fast for me!

These two shots were the best I could
manage.

Black Tern, Slimbridge WWT, Gloucestershire

19
September 2015

See above.

Red Grouse, Grinton Moor, North Yorkshire

1 September
2015

I've previously had some success at this site using
the car as a hide and it worked again today for awhile. Nice to
have a bit of sun as well!

Click to enlarge

Red Grouse, Grinton Moor, North Yorkshire

1 September
2015

The flowering heather adds to the colour in these
photos.

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

A great early
morning session at this lek. By now the sun had risen and cleared
the clouds on the horizon.

click to enlarge

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

For this photo,
the sun was just starting to make an appearance on the scene.

Click to enlarge

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

Two birds
squaring up.

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

Near the top of a
mound - most of the time they were in the dips between them.

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

A displaying
bird.

Click to enlarge

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

I think there was
another bird between this one and me!

Black Grouse, Wales

4 May 2015

The earliest
photo of a close bird, but at ISO 6400 at around sunrise when it
was very dark!

Mandarin, Cannop Ponds, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

At least three pairs were present and they were quite approachable
- perhaps more during the week than at weekends?

Click to
enlarge

Mandarin, Cannop Ponds, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

I was surprised to find one pair emerging from the water and
wandering across the path!

Click to enlarge

Nuthatch, Forest of Dean, Gloucs

25 March 2015

Despite close views, these birds were moving very fast and hardly
stayed still for a second. This photo benefits from sunshine!